When it comes to making your own life last longer, yoga classes and more fiber might be on your “try to live longer” list.
But that won’t do your sprinkler system much good.
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- Regular Tune-Ups Will Extend Your Sprinkler System Lifespan
- Sprinkler System Maintenance Includes Spring Activation
- Want a Longer Sprinkler System Lifespan? Don’t Skip Winterization
- Sprinkler System Maintenance: Don’t Do It Yourself
- Sprinkler System Lifespan: How Long Do They Last?
- Can an Old Sprinkler System Be Repaired?
- How to Repair a Lawn Sprinkler System?
- How Much Does a Sprinkler Repair Cost?
- Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Sprinkler Systems?
- Sprinkler System Maintenance: What’s the Cost?
How can you extend the lifespan of your sprinkler system? Ensure regular maintenance is performed year-round. Schedule professional services for spring startup and winter shutdown. Steer clear of dangerous DIY repairs that could potentially harm your system.
Keep reading to learn more about irrigation system maintenance.
Regular Tune-Ups Will Extend Your Sprinkler System Lifespan
How long your sprinkler system lasts could depend on regular inspections and tune-ups to detect any problems early.
What types of issues? Sprinkler heads that are broken, leaking, or clogged. Broken lines. Damage from snow plows or lawn mowers. A zone that fails to shut off. A loose fitting.
Ignore them, and problems will get worse, and potentially cut short the life of your sprinkler system.
All the irrigation system maintenance details that irrigation specialists check will ensure your irrigation system runs efficiently and lasts a long time.
The best sprinkler system maintenance includes tune-up visits by irrigation specialists three times a year: in spring, to start up your system, in fall, to shut it down, and that all-important summer visit to look over your irrigation system when it’s working the hardest out there, chugging away while you’re lounging on the deck.
When irrigation pros take a good look at your sprinkler system three times a year, they’ll catch potentially expensive problems early. That gives you great peace of mind and helps extend the life of your irrigation system.
Sprinkler System Maintenance Includes Spring Activation
Sure, your spring activation visit turns on your sprinkler system for the season, which is a great excuse to celebrate. That first visit of the season can also help extend the life of your sprinkler system by catching any problems early.
Here in Eau Claire, WI, irrigation system activation happens between mid-April and the end of May, depending on the weather.
Winter can be rough around here. Frost causes the ground to heave and nudge your sprinkler heads out of whack. Snowplows can cause damage to components.
A thorough spring inspection will spot any problems, so your irrigation specialist can tackle any lawn irrigation repairs as soon as possible, helping your irrigation system last for the long haul.
Want a Longer Sprinkler System Lifespan? Don’t Skip Winterization
This is a big one. Getting all the water out of your pipes, valves, and heads before the first freeze isn’t just a sprinkler system maintenance “should do.” It’s a must-do to extend the life expectancy of your sprinkler system.
(You’ve probably heard this referred to as a sprinkler system “blowout.”)
If water freezes in your sprinkler system’s components and expands, things break, and that means a costly repair.
Other irrigation system maintenance tasks your irrigation specialists should do before winter:
- They should winterize your lake pump, if you use one, so it doesn’t break from winter’s freezing temperatures.
- They should add RV antifreeze to protect it, cover the ends of the pipes to keep critters out, and remove the wiring so it doesn’t accidentally get turned on.
- Winterization should also include draining any water from your backflow device. Freezing water can damage the internal components and crack the body, leading to expensive repairs for the irrigation system.
Winter, besides making it uncomfortable to walk out to your mailbox in your robe, can cause costly damage to your sprinkler system that can cut its life short.
Sprinkler System Maintenance: Don’t Do It Yourself
Sure, it feels good to tackle a lawn irrigation repair job yourself and brag to your neighbor. “Yep, I strapped on my tool belt, replaced a few valves, no big deal.”
But if you don’t know exactly what you’re doing, you’re putting your poor irrigation system at risk. And, honestly, your neighbor isn't that easily impressed.
We’ve seen some scary DIY stuff out there—repairs done with duct tape and zip ties. Copper pipes are patched with tape.
We’ll pause so we can all shudder.
Tackle a line break yourself, and you have to be sure that contaminants like dirt don't get into the line during repairs. That could cause permanent damage.
And it’s tricky to figure out what’s wrong with your sprinkler system in the first place. Nobody expects you to be an irrigation expert. That's why we’re here. Any one problem could be due to several different issues.
Leave the lawn sprinkler repairs to the pros to extend the life expectancy of your irrigation system.
Sign up for irrigation system maintenance in Eau Claire, WI, and rest easy. Maybe brag to your neighbor about your killer barbecue sauce instead.
Sprinkler System Lifespan: How Long Do They Last?
While different parts of your irrigation system will likely need replacement throughout its life, you can expect the average sprinkler system to last around 20 years.
After that long, it's reasonable to expect that upgrades and repairs won't be worth pursuing.
Can an Old Sprinkler System Be Repaired?
Most of the time, yes. About 80 percent of the time, your irrigation system can be repaired.
It’s normal to need occasional repairs to your lawn sprinkler. Your sprinkler system works hard, keeping your lawn and landscaping thriving.
Sprinkler heads break. Valves leak. Wires wear out. These typical irrigation repair services are much cheaper than installing a sprinkler system in your yard.
But sometimes, it’s time for a new irrigation installation:
- If your irrigation system is more than 20 years old and was made with PVC pipe, you might be looking at a new sprinkler system installation. PVC gets brittle with age and can break. Newer sprinkler systems have polyethylene pipe, which is flexible, moves with the ground, and lasts much longer.
- If you’re doing a major landscaping renovation and have to dig up and reconfigure many zones, it’s cheaper to start over with a new irrigation installation.
Suppose your lawn sprinkler system installation was designed so poorly that all areas of your lawn and landscaping aren’t getting coverage, or there isn’t enough water volume and pressure. In that case, you’ll need a new irrigation installation.
How to Repair a Lawn Sprinkler System?
That’s a big question. Some lawn irrigation repairs are pretty simple, like replacing a damaged sprinkler head.
Chances are, if you have a broken sprinkler system, there’s a broken head. The top five sprinkler system problems we see all involve sprinkler heads:
- A sprinkler head not rotating
- A sprinkler head leaking
- A sprinkler head mowed off by a lawnmower
- A sprinkler head out of adjustment: too high, too low, crooked, angled wrong
- Sprinkler nozzles clogged with debris
Luckily, fixing those top five sprinkler system problems is pretty easy. Sprinkler heads can be cleaned out, readjusted, or replaced.
Other sprinkler system repairs, like a leaky line buried underground, are more complicated.
Just diagnosing the problem can be tricky.
Let’s say you realize one of your irrigation system zones isn’t working. How to fix it? Well, the problem could be an electrical issue. Or a controller problem. Or a defective solenoid. Or a broken line. Or a lightning strike.
You can see the challenge.
Meanwhile, when one sprinkler system zone isn’t working, that’s a big deal. It doesn't take long, in the summer heat, for your grass to turn brown and your pink petunias to die.
How do you repair a lawn sprinkler system? It's time to pick up the phone and call your irrigation maintenance service in Eau Claire, WI.
How Much Does a Sprinkler Repair Cost?
It’s normal for irrigation system parts to wear out over time or need adjustment.
How much does a lawn sprinkler repair cost? It depends on the repair.
It’s smart to budget a few hundred dollars a year for repairs to make sure your irrigation system runs smoothly and keeps that crucial water flowing.
Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Sprinkler Systems?
Homeowners' insurance policies vary widely, but while a policy might cover water damage caused by a sprinkler system malfunction, it’s unlikely to cover sprinkler system problems due to neglect or lack of maintenance.
And it typically won’t cover the cost of repairing or replacing the sprinkler system itself, like broken pipes, malfunctioning valves, or damaged controllers.
Your best bet? Regular irrigation system maintenance, including winterizing and inspections, can help you avoid costly repairs and prolong your hard-working system’s lifespan.
Sprinkler System Maintenance: What’s the Cost?
The cost to maintain a sprinkler system starts with signing up for a sprinkler system maintenance program that includes some combination of spring activation, fall winterization, and tune-up visits throughout the busy summer months.
Expect to pay between $225 and $450 per year for a good irrigation system maintenance program in Eau Claire, depending on the level of service you choose.
Included in the cost: peace of mind. You know, irrigation specialists are keeping an eye on things, noticing any potential problems before they turn into big, costly headaches.
Sometimes everything is running great. Maybe the controller needs adjusting for the season. Other times, your irrigation system maintenance company will find sprinkler heads that need to be adjusted or replaced. Or broken valves. A zone that won’t turn off. A loose fitting. Stuff happens.
Whatever your sprinkler system maintenance costs are, your irrigation program should be designed to match your needs. At RainMaster, every visit is carefully planned to optimize your irrigation system's performance, reduce water usage, and promote a healthier landscape.
Want to Make Your Sprinkler System Last Longer? Trust RainMaster
While yoga and a vegan diet won’t do your irrigation system much good, regular tune-ups and attention by skilled irrigation specialists can extend the life of your sprinkler system.
Your irrigation maintenance company in Eau Claire, WI, should make all of this super easy.
You deserve expert and efficient irrigation repair, ongoing attentive maintenance, and friendly customer service that alleviates stress and simplifies your experience.
Hire an Eau Claire irrigation maintenance company that goes beyond fixing that immediate irrigation repair problem and sets you up for easy maintenance and efficiency designed for the long haul.
Choose from our three irrigation system maintenance programs to ensure everything runs smoothly.
When you’re ready to put your trust in us, we can’t wait to meet you and help you make the best choice for your lawn.
Ready to make your lawn life easier? Request a quote today! We’ll review your options together so you can make a confident decision. Then, you can finally enjoy your well-watered lawn and stop worrying about it.
